About six weeks ago I won a Keurig Office Pro Brewing System. It sounds fancy because it is! It brews coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or the iced beverage of my choice in under a minute. It costs $130, but for me, it was FREE!
When I received the email saying I’d won the Keurig, I almost deleted it. After all, I never win anything and so much spam comes through the inbox. But then I remembered I had entered a contest. But I was still skeptical. Still afraid to click any links or send any shipping information.
So I contacted Constant Contact, the email marketing company I use for my ministry newsletters. It was their contest and they confirmed I had indeed won! So, I clicked the links, sent my shipping information, and started watching the front porch.
My shiny Keurig now occupies a prominent spot on the kitchen counter. I love using it. Everybody can have the coffee they want – bold, light, decaf. I can quickly make a cup on my way out the door to take with me in the car. But one of the best things about it is getting to tell people it didn’t cost me anything!
We don’t often get things of value for free. Sayings like “you can’t get something for nothing” and “you get what you pay for” caught on because they’re usually true. So unfortunately, I tend to undervalue the grace of God because it didn’t cost me anything.
We humans tend to not put much value in things that are free. And while God’s grace may be free to us, it cost God His Son. Today, let’s spend a few minutes contemplating the great value of God’s free grace.
Here are a few phrases from the book of Ephesians Paul used to describe our condition before God applied His grace to our lives:
- Dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1)
- Disobedient to God and obedient to Satan (Ephesians 2:2)
- Gratifying the cravings of our sinful desires (Ephesians 2:3)
- Deserving of God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:3)
- Excluded from God’s family (Ephesians 2:11)
- Without hope and without God (Ephesians 2:12)
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy saved us by His grace (Ephesians 2:4-5).
Paul uses beautiful, flowery speech in an attempt to help us understand God’s glorious grace, which He poured out on us:
- Has freely given us in the One He loves (Ephesians 1:6)
- Showed His rich kindness to us (Ephesians 1:7)
- He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding (Eph 1:8)
- Incomparable riches of His grace (Ephesians 2:7)
- Gift from God (Ephesians 2:8)
Free, rich, lavished, incomparable, gift
Paul also clearly tells us what God’s grace has accomplished in us:
- New life in Christ (Ephesians 2:4)
- Raised up, seated with Christ (Ephesians 2:6)
- Objects of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:7)
- Brought near to God (Ephesians 2:13)
- Reconciled to God (Ephesians 2:16)
- Member of God’s family (Ephesians 2:19)
“Grace Greater Than Our Sin,” a hymn by Julia Johnston in 1911, came to mind as I searched through Ephesians:
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,Will you this moment His grace receive?
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Share with us today! What’s your favorite hymn or verse about God’s lavish grace?
Grace…………………Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me……………………
I once was lost, but now am found!
THE SONG “AMAZING GRACE”.
One of my all-time favorites!